Aeroplane.



G. M. WANZER.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, 1910.

1,005,908, Patented 0613. 17,1911.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES crmnnns MICHAEL wnnzna, or Unnana, 01110.

AEROPLAN E.

Specification of Letters i'atent.

Application fi ed. January 8, 1910. Serial No. 536,974.

To all 'wlw'm it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. WANznn, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Urbana', in the county of Champaign and State of Ohio,have invented a new and Improved Aeroplane, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are:to provide a construction for aeroplanes whereby the same are enabled tostart their flight from a resting position; to provide means formechanically lifting the aeroplane to an inclined position while incontact with the ground or starting station; and to provide manuallyoperated mechanical means for initiating the flight of an aeroplane.

One embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in the structureillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters ofreference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in WhlCl1igure 1 is a side elevation of an aeroplane constructed in accordancewith the present invention, showing'the same in its first position wheninitiating the flight; Fig. 2 is a like View illustrating thesecondposition at the moment of flight; Flg. 31s a top plan view of theaeroplane; and Flg. 4 .is a detail view on enlarged scale, in sectiontaken on the line 44 in Fig. 1.

One of the most serious objections and limitations of the present formof aero lane is, that it relies upon the initial spee 1mparted while incontact with the earth to produce suflicient force to lift the planefrom the ground.

The present invention is calculated to overcome the difliculty thusexperienced in the usual construction, by providingv means whereby theplane is given, at the moment of flight, the .proper inclined angle atwhich it will readily leave the ground, and to provide manually operatedmeans for launching the machine, so that it is supported by the air whenthe mechamcal supports are removed.

That the drawings may not be confused, there have been eliminated theelements of the propelling machinery, they being indicated by theessential parts thereof. Thus, the propellers 5, 5 are shown as fixedlymounted'u on shafts 6, 6, which are mounted in suita ble hearings inbrackets 7, 7 set out from the sides of a triangular depended frame 8,8. The shafts 6, 6 are provided with some suitable form of driving gear,preferably a sprocket wheel 9 secured thereto, which is operativelyconnected by means of a sprocket chain 10 to a suitable internalcombustion engine 11.

The engine 11 is illustrated in Fig. 1 as mounted within the car body12. The car.

body 12 is supported by a longitudinal brace 13'. Within the car body 12is provided means for operating the engine 11, the clutches for theshafts 6 and the operating mechanism for a rudder 14 and a deflector 15."The rudder 14 is pivotally mounted on a substantially vertical shaft 16which is pivotally secured in frame braces Patented Oct. 17, 1911..

17 and 18. The braces 13 and 17 are joined a at an angle, as illustratedin Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The'brace 17 connects the brace 13 anda top frame 19. The frame 19 At the forward end of the frame 19 it isconnected by triangularly inclined I and depended braces 22, 23. Thebraces 22, 22 and braces 23, 23 converge at ,their lower extremities,and are joined by jthe brace 13. A triangular form is thus given to theforward section of the aeroplane and that over which is extended themain carrylng plane. A triangular shape is alsogiven to the rearextension of the frame by the brace 17, frame 19 and median braces 23,23.

The main levitation plane 24 is formed from any suitable material, andlaterally extend from and secured upon the frame 19, as shownparticularly in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The extension of theplane 24 is varied to suit conditions and desires. The plane 24 .isrelatively immovable on the frame 19, 19 and the defis constructed ofparallel side bars which i are properly cross braced by bars 20 and tierods 21, 21.

pended braces 22, 23 and the brace 13 therewith connected. The deflector15 is 'ivotally mounted at 25, 25 between the rame 19, 19 at the extremerear end of the frame.-

It is provided with vertically extended' arms 26, 26, which, by means ofguy lines 27, 27 are employed to change the horizontal angle of thedeflector 15 with relation to the plane 24, much in the manner usual Therudder 14 is provided with laterall extended arms 28, 28 which areconnected b means of guy lines 29, 29 to suitable. mec anism forchanging to all aeroplanes.

the vertical angle .of the said rudder to position parallel wi aviatornow enters the car 12, after having cause the same to direct theaeroplane horizontall in its flight.

As t us far described the essential difference between the present andaeroplanes of former construction, consists in the triangular formationof the rear end of the extension of the framework, thus producing whatmay be termed a double keel upon which the machine may rest prior to andat the moment of launching upon its flight. maintain the frame in itsupright position, and, as will hereinafter be explained, to initiateitupon its flight, I have provided a jack consisting of elongatedvertically extended legs 30, 30. The legs 30, 30 of the jack arepivotally connected at 31, 31 to the frame 19, 19, and are joined neartheir lower ends by a cross brace 32. The elongation of the legs 30,30'is such that when perpendicularly extended from the frame 19 theyprotrude some distance beyond the bottom-of the brace 13. The office ofthe jack herein shown is two fold; to wit, first, to incline the machineat the proper angle for flight while mechanically initiating the flight,and, second, to ease the shock of alighting when the machine is broughtto the ground.

To perform the first of the above stated functions the jack legs 30, 30are carried forward of the brace 13, which rests parallel upon theground, the plane 24 being in this t the ground. The

started the motor 11. By manipulating a guy line 33 he retracts the jacklegs 30, 30

toward pulleys 37,37 over which the said guy line is reeved, bringingvthe feet 34, 34 in contact with the ground, and in such position thatfurther pull upon the guy line 33 advances the frame of the machine,tilting upwardly the forward end thereof, as shown in Fi l of thedrawings. The clutches engaging the shafts 6, 6 are now thrown in,whirling the propellers 5, 5 and exerting through them a further pullupon the frame of the aeroplane. It may prove that the pressure of thepropellers is alone sufiicient to now carry the aeroplane in a forwarddirection over the jack legs 30, 30. In doing so, and until the momentwhen the jack legs 30, 30 are in the vertical position shown in Fig. 2of thedrawings, it will be seen that the plane 24 is inclined at a sharpupwardly turned angle, and that the further propulsion of the propellers5, 5 lifts the machine from the ground. Where it is not desired that thedrag of the propellers should be depended upon to lift the aeroplane,the machine is provided with a Windlass 35 having a crank handle 36, orother suitable, and

V if desired, mechanically operated means,

about which the guy line 33 and both extensions thereof are wound. Whensuch arrangement is provided, it is obvious that by merely turning theWindlass 35 to retract the legs 30, 30 the effect is to suddenly advancethe body of the machine in a forward direction by reason of the grip ofthe feet 34, 34 upon the ground. This action, in a limited degree,simulates the forward throw of the legs of a bird when starting on itsflight. This mechanical action eases the shock upon the propellerssufiiciently and aids the same to the-needed extent to overcome theinertia of the mass of the aeroplane.

When performing the second of the above mentioned functions, the jacklegs 30, 30 are advanced to the position approximately that shown inFig. 1 of the drawings, by drawing the guy line 33 forward 'over pulleys38, 38 about which the said line is reeved. The Windlass 35 is permittedto run under a drag of any suitable form and character. When now theplane is directed to the ground it approaches. the same in a the feet34, 34 of the plane strike upon the ground and are, by the impact,retracted itoward the rear end thereof. In thus retracting, the guy line33 is allowed to run by the windlass 35, and under the retarded actiondue to the drag or brake as above stated. The immediate result of theretardation of'the legs 30, 30 is toproduee an upward inclination of theplane 24 and the machine carried thereby, while the legs 30, 30 passunder the center of gravitation of the machine and are extended backwardto -ward the rear end of the brace 13. By thus 1. In an aeroplane, abody frame having a double keel, the sections of said keel being set atan angle each to the other, the forward section being substantiallyparallel with the top of said frame and the rearward section beinginclined from the end of the first said section to the level of the topof said frame to permit the downward swing of the rear of said framepreliminary to flight; a plurality of jack legs pivotally connected tosaid frame at near the top thereof, said le length to lift the said ameo the ground when said legs are vertically disposed; and

a prime mover carried in said frame for ro-' tatin the said legs ontheir pivots to move the ends of said le rearwardly past the center ofgravity of t e aeroplane.

bein of sufiicient -ward section being inclined from the end of thefirst said section to thelevel of the top of said frame to permit thedownward swing of the rear of said frame preliminary to flight; aplurality of jack legs pivotally connected to said frame at near the.top thereof, said legs being of sufficient length to lift the saidframe off the ground when said legs are vertically disposed; a primemover carried in said frame for rotating the said legs on their pivotsto move the free ends said legs rearwardly past the center of gravity ofthe aeroplane; a carrying plane mounted upon said body frame; and airpropelling means carried in said body frame to propel the aeroplane withthe operation of said ack le s.

3. In an aeroplane, a Ind frame having a double keel, the sections 0said keel being set at an angle each to the other, the forward sectionbeing substantially parallel with the top of said frame and the vrearward section being inclined from the end of the first said sectionto the level of the top of said frame to, permit the downward swing ofthe rear of said frame preliminary to flight; a plurality of jack legspivotally connected to said frame at near the to thereof, said legsbeing of sufficient lengtli to lift the said frame off the ground whensaid legs are verticallgt disposed; a prime mover carried in said amefor rotatin the said legs on their pivots to move the ree ends of saidlegs rearwardly past thecenter of gravity of the aeroplane; a carryingplane mounted upon said body frame; air propelling means carried in saidbody frame to propel the aeroplane with the operation of said jack legs;a levitating p ane pivotally mounted at the rear of said frame and atthe end of said keel; and

means for setting said levitating plane to balance said aeroplaneinition of the flight.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES MICHAEL WANZER. Witnesses:

LOUISE MAURER, O. B. HEISERMAN.

succeedmg the

